Mail catching and delivering device.



No. 882,661. PATBNTED MAR. 24, 1908.

- C. C. ANDREWS.

MAIL CATCHING AND DBLIVERING DEVICE. APPLICATION HLBD JAN. 1o, 190s.

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C. C. ANDREWS. I --MAIL CATCHING AND DBLIVERING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.10, 1908.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

PATENTED MAR. 24, 1908.

0'. 0. ANDREWS. MAIL GATGHING AND DELIVERING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. l0, 1908.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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ooL'roN c. ANDREWS, or MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE'.

MAIL CATCHING ANd) DELIVERIN'G- DEVICE.

Application led January 10, 1908.

To 'all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CoLToN C. ANDREWS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Memphis, in the county of Shelby and State of Tennessee, have invented a new and useful Mail Catching and Delivering Device, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to mail catching and delivering devices, and has for its princial object to provide an improved mechanism of this class whereby the danger of accident to the mail clerks is reduced to a minimum, the catching and delivering appliances being so arranged as to permit adjustment to proper positionsfor catching and delivering the mail without the necessity of the clerk exposing himself at the door of the mail car, and without requiring the manual holding of the devices, especially the catcher, while in operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of this class in which the catching and delivering devices may be moved out to operative position as the train approaches each mail station without the necessity of opening the door of the mail car, and further to so arrange the apparatus that it will immediately drop or move out of the way as soon as its work is accomplished.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a catcher which is moved to operative position by a fluid under ressure, the auxiliary reservoir of the bra ring system being preferably utilized as a source of energy, and further to so arrange the catcher that the shock resulting from the catching of the bag will immediately cause the movement of the catcher to inoperative position, so as to prevent its striking against poles or other obstructions on the line.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a pressure actuated delivery crane supported y the-car and movable outward in such position as to present the mail bag into alinement with the stationary catcher on the railway platform.

Wit-h these. and other objects in View, as will more fully hereinafter appear, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportions, size and minor details of Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 24, 1908.

Serial No. 410,152.

the structure may be made without de arting from the spirit or sacrificing any o the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a plan view, partly in section, of a mail catching and delivering apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view of the catcher on an enlarged scale. Figp is a vertical section on the line 33 of Fig. 2, showing the mail catcher in inoperative position. Fig. 4 isa transverse section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2, showing one of the mail catcher mountings on an enlarged scale. Fig. 5 is a vertical section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a front elevation, partly in section, of a portion of the mechanism for transmitting movement to the mail catcher. Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of the delivery arms, detached.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts throughout the several lfigures of the drawings.

The entire apparatus carried by the mail car is vertically adjustable in order that the mail catcher and operating members may be placed at different vertical heights in accordance with the positions of the stationary devices on the railway platforms, and for this purpose, the mechanism is carried by a series of vertical guides 10, 11, 12 and 13, the guides 10 and 11 being secured to the outer face lof the car, and the guides 12 and 13 being arranged within the car.

Secured to the guides 10 and 11 are vertically adjustable brackets 15, these being held in place by blocks 1.6, which extend between and fit against the inner faces of the guides, the blocks being provided with outwardly extended threaded pins 17 which receive the clamping nuts 18.

Mounted in the brackets are two cylindrical blocks 19 and 20, these being bored out for the reception of the end portions of a bar 22, that is free for revoluble and slight endwise movement. The central portion of the bar is provided with a diametrically exsity, and then locked in place by tightening the nut.

The catcher arm is arranged to be supported in a horizontal position, so that it may engage with and remove the mail bag from the stationary platform frame, and in order to lock the bag in place, a bell crank lever 27 is pivoted on a pin 28 carried by the block 24. One arm of the bell crank lever normally eX- tends across the rear portion of the catcher arm and rests against a friction locking cam 29. This arm of thebell crank lever is disposed in the path of the mail bag, and is adapted to be engaged therewith when the catcher arm is in operation, and as the mail bag moves into the crook of the arm, the bell crank lever will be swung around, so that its opposite arm will ride on top of the friction locking cam 29, and thus hold the mail bag in place. The shock incident to the catching of the mail bag will then o erate to automatically release the arm an allow the same to drop to the vertical position shown in Fig. 3, where it will be out of the way, and accidental damage from collision with stationary objects along the track will be avoided.

The forward end of the arm 22 is turned down to form reduced cylindrical portions 31, 32 and 33, the latter fitting within a small guiding opening formed in the block 19, while the portion 31 forms a main journal for the forward end of the bar. The cylindrical portion 32 is surrounded by a helical compression spring 34 which bears at one end against i a shoulder on the bar, and at the o posite end against the bottom of the poc ret, or bore of the block 19, the tendency of the spring being to force the bar 22 to the rear.

The rear end of the bar 22 is likewise reduced to form cylindrical portions 36, 37 and 38, and around the cylindrical portion 37 is wound a helical compression spring 39 that tends to force the bar forward, so that the bar is yieldably mounted between these two springs, and normally occupies the position shown in Fig. 2.

The bore at the forward end of the cylindrical block 20 is somewhat larger than the cylindrical portion 36 of the bar, and projecting inward from the wall of the bore are four lugs 40, which are arranged to be successively engaged by a pin 41 projecting from the cylindrical portion 36 of the bar. l/Vhen the parts arein the position shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the pin 41 is in engagement with one of the lugs 40, and the catcher arm will be held in a horizontal position in readiness to catch the mail bag. The shock incident tothe catching operation will throw the catcher arm and the Vbar- 22 backward, so that the pin 4 1 willI move to the rear of the lug 40, with which it is engaged, and then the catcher arm being no longer supported will swing down by gravity lto the vertical position shown in Fig. 3, remaining in this position while the spring 39 which has been compressed by the rearward movement of the catcher arm and bar will expand and again move the bar forward, so that the pin will be moved to a position between two of the lugs 40, and when the cylindrical block 20 is turned at the next operation, the catcher bar will be again elevated to the horizontal position.

Adjustably secured to the inner guide bars 13, is a bracket 45 having bearings for the support of a horizontally disposed shaft 46, to one end of which is secured a bevel gear 47, intermeshing with a bevel gear 48 that is secured to the inner end of a horizontally disposed shaft 49. The shaft 49 entends through the wall of the car, and is mounted in bearings formed in a bracket 50 that is vertically adjustable on the guide bars 12. The outer end of the shaft 49 is connected to the cylindrical block 20 by miter gears 51.

Arranged within the car is a vertically slotted guide 53 having bearings for the reception of a shaft 54 and one end of the shaft 54 is enlarged and is bored out to receive a shaft 55, to the inner end of which is secured an enlarged head or disk 56. The shaft 55 has a key or tongue 57 fitting within a corresponding groove formed in the enlarged portion of the shaft 54, so that these two shaft members are connected for mutual rotative movement, and are free for slight independent longitudinal movement. Between the disk 56 and the bottom of the recess is a helical compression spring 58 that tends normally to thrust the shaft 55 outward. rlhe adjacent ends of the shafts 55 and 46 are provided with ratchet clutch teeth 59, there being four of such teeth at the end of each shaft, and these being disposed at equidistant intervals. The shaft 46 has a projecting pin 60 entering a recess in the end of the shaft 55 for the purpose of holding the shafts in proper alinement when the clutch teeth are moved to click over each other.

Secured to the shaft 54 is a pinion 62 that 1 is in constant mesh with a rack 63 adapted to the guide 53. The rack 63 is carried at the upper end of a piston rod 64 that is connected to a piston 65 arranged within a vertically disposed cylinder 66, and between the piston and the upper end of the cylinder is a compression spring 67 .that tends to resist upward movement of said piston.

From the lower end of the cylinder leads a tube 69 that is connected to any suitable source of supply of fluid under pressure, and this, in the present instance, is shown in the form of a tank 70 which tank may be the auxiliary reservoir of the brake system of the car. The flow of air from the reservoir to the cylinder 66 is under the control of a valve or cock 71, which, whenv opened, admits air to the lower portion of the cylinder, thereby forcing up the piston 65. This movement is transmitted from the rack-63 to the pinion 62,

thereby turning the shaft 54, the shaft 55 and shaft 46. The movement is transmitted from the shaft 46 through the gear 47, 4S to shaft 49, and thence through miter gears 50 to cylindrical block 20, rotating the latter to the extent of one-fourth of a revolution, and thereby moving the catcher arm up to the active or horizontal position. After the catching operation is complete and the shock incident to the operation has caused the catcher arm to drop to horizontal position, air may be exhausted from the lower portion of the cylinder by opening the exhaust valve 72, and thereby the shafts 54 and 55 will be turned, so that the ratchet teeth 59 of shaft will click past the similar teeth of the shaft 46, shaft 54 making one-fourth of a revolution, while shaft 46 and the remaining gear carrying members remain stationary.

Secured to the outer face of the side of the car is a block to which is pivoted a delivery frame 8l comprising a pair of parallel arms having rearwardly turned end portions 82 that are separated from each other a distance a proximately equal to the height of the mai bag, and these arms are arranged to receive the hooks or rings a; which are usually carried by the bag, the hooks being held from accidental displacement by small springs 83.

The delivery frame' 81 normally lies flat against the side of the car, and may be forced up to delivery position by fluid pressure.' For this purpose the frame is connected to a iston rod 86 by means of a link 87, and on tie rod 86 is secured a piston 8S 'fitting within a Huid pressure cylinder S9 that is disposed within the car. Between the forward end of the cylinder and the piston is arranged a helical compression spring 90 that Vtends normally to resist outward movement of the piston and the delivery frame. The inner end of the cylinder is connected by a pipe 91 to the pipe 69, and in said pipe 91 is a valve 92 which may be turned for the purpose of allowing the fluid under pressure to flow to the cylinder 89. Under normal conditions the valve 92 will be slightly opened, its function being rather to control the quantity of uid admitted to the cylinder 89 than the time of operation, so that by opening the valve 71, the operating fluid may be simultaneously admitted to both of the cylinders, and by opening the valve 72 the fluid may be allowed to exhaust from both cylinders.

In case of failure of the air brakes, the handled nut 26 may be utilized in holding the catcher in operative position, or any other suitable means may be employed for the purpose.

The catching and delivering devices may be placed on both sides of the car, and provision is made for operating either side to the exclusion of the other, the main air pipe having a branch connection 94 as shown by dotted lines in Figl.

The stationary apparatus employed on the railwayplatforms may be of any suitable construction, and preferably includes a vertical post or mast having pivoted arms 101 from the outer ends of which project pins 102 for the support of the mail box X to be delivered to the train. Secured to the mast 10() is a horizontal cross bar 103. To each end of the cross bar is pivoted a catcher hook 104, which is held up in the active or horizontal position by a small hook 105 which is engaged by a mail bag and moved to release position, so that the catcher arm may fall n out of the way as soon as the bag is caught.

l. lA mail bag catcher, a carrying bar therefor, a revoluble support for said bar, interlocking means on said bar and support adapted to rotate said bar as the support is rotated, automatic means for disengaging said interlocking means under the shock incident to the mail bag catching operation, and means for rotating said support.

2. A inail bag catcher, a carrying bar therefor, supports in which the bar is mounted for revoluble and longitudinal movement, interengaging means between the bar and one of the supports for maintaining the catcher in operative position, said catcher and bar being movable to release position under the shock incident to the mail bag catching operation, and nleans for turning the last mentioned support to restore the catcher to operative position.

3. In combination, a mail bag catcher, a supporting bar carrying 'the same, a pair of end supports in which said bar is mounted for revoluble and endwise movement, interengaging means between one of the supports and the bar, means for turning said support to move the catcher from inoperative to operative position, the catcher and bar being movable under the shock incident to the nail bag catching operation to disconnect the interengaging means and pernlit the catcher tofall to inoperative posltion, and a restoring spring for nloving the bar back to engaging position.

4. ln combination, a mail bag catcher, a carrying bar therefor, said bar having reduced circular end portions, a pair of sup-` ports receiving the end portions of the bar, means for turning one of the supports, balancing springs arranged in the supports and bearing against the opposite. ends of the bar, a projecting pin extending from one end of the bar, and a series of iugs carried by the movable support and arranged to engage said pin.

5. In a mail bag catcher, a catcher arm, a cam arranged thereon, and a pivotally mounted bell crank lever havinga pair of arms arranged to frictionally engage the cam, one of said arms normally extending y the bar, a p lurality of lugs carried by the across the holding crook of the arm in the support, a pm proJecting from the bar and path of the mail bag.

6.. In combination, a mail bag catcher, a fluid pressure cylinder for actuating the same, and automatic means for disconnecting said catcher from said cylinder and permitting movement of the catcher to inoperlagtive position after the catching of the mail 7. In combination, a lmail bag catcher, a fluid pressure actuated means for moving the catcher to operative position and holding the same in such position, and automatic means for disconnecting the catcher from the operative means and allowing the same to assume inoperative position after the catching of the mail bag.

8. In combination, a mail bag catcher arranged to swing between a horizontal operative position and an approximately vertical inoperative position, a fluid pressure cylinder, a piston therein, connections between the piston and the catcher whereby said catcher is moved to operative position, and automatic means for disengaging the connections and permitting the catcher to assume inoperative position after the catching of' the mail bag.

9. In combination, a mail bag catcher arranged to swing between horizontal operative position and approximately vertical inoperative position, a fluid pressure cylinder, a piston therein, connections between the piston and the catcher for moving the same to horizontal position, and automatic means for releasing the catcher and allowing the same to swing to vertical position after the catching of the mail bag.

10. In combination, a mail bag catcher arranged to swing between operative and inoperative position, a fluid pressure cylinder, a piston arranged therein, a rack bar actuated by the piston, gearing connections between the rack bar and the catcher, whereby said catcher is moved to operative position, and means for automatically releasing the catcher and allowing the same to swing by gravity to inoperative position after the mail bag catching operation. l 11. In combination, a mail bag catcher arranged to swing between the operative and inoperative positions, a revoluble support, interengaging means between the support and catcher, a miter gear on the support, a fluid pressure cylinder, a piston arranged therein, a rack bar connected to the piston, a shaft having at one end a pinion engaging the rack bar and provided at the opposite end with a bevel gear, and a second shaft having gears connecting the bevel gear to the miter gear.

12. In combination, a mail bag catcher, a

carrying bar therefor, a revoluble support for arranged to be engaged by said lug, a miter gear on the support, a fluid pressure cylinder, a piston arranged therein, a rack bar receiving motion from the piston, a power transmitting means between the rack bar and the miter gear, said means including a two part shaft having a slip clutch connection to permit transmission of movement from the piston to the movable support in one direction onl 1357. In combination, a mail bag catcher, a supporting bar therefor, said bar having reduced cylindrical end portions, a pin projecting from one of the cylindrical portions, a pair of supports in which the bar is mounted, one of said supports being revoluble, a plurality of lugs carried by the revoluble support and arranged to engage the pin, a spring tending to hold the bar in position, a miter gear on the revoluble support, a fluid pressure cylinder, a piston arranged therein, a rack bar connected to the piston, a pinion intermeshing with the rack bar, a two part shaft formed of yieldably connected sections, one of said sections carrying the pinion, and the other section being provided with ratchet clutch teeth, a second shaft also having ratchet clutch teeth engaging those of the sectional shaft, a bevel gear on said second shaft, and a connecting shaft having gears arranged to connect the bevel and miter gears.

14. In combination, a mail bag catcher for mail cars, a Huid pressure reservoir on the car, a fluid pressure cylinder, connections between the cylinder and the catcher, and valves for controlling the flow of the fluid under pressure from the reservoir to the cylinder, and from the cylinderfto the exhaust and means for automatically disconnecting said catcher from said cylinder.

15. In apparatus of the class described, separate mail bag catching and delivering members movable between operative and inoperative position, and fluid pressure means arranged on the car for moving said members to operative position and means for automatically disconnecting said catching member from said operative means.

16. In apparatus of the class described, separate mail bag catching and delivering members movable between operative and inoperative positions, separate fluid pressure cylinders connected to said members, and a single controlling valve for the admission of fluid to both cylinders.

17. In apparatus of the class described, a mail bag catcher supporting and operating means, and guides in which said supporting and operating means are mounted for vertical adjustment.

18'. In mail bag catching and delivering apparatus, a pivotally mounted catcher arm,

and a supporting hook arranged to hold the my own, I have hereto affixed my signature catcher1 arm in horiyontal Ifosition, said hook in the presence of two Witnesses. being sposed n tre pat 1 of movement of f a T and adapted to be engaged by the mail bag l COLION (J' ABDREV S' 5 to thereby effect release of the catcher after the mail bag catching operation.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as tnessesz LUCY HUGHES, GERTRUDE Bono. 

